Pressing machine operating device



June 5, 1951 s. E. OSBORN 2,555,759

PRESSING MACHINE OPERATING DEVICE Filed Dec. 28, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORI. SAMUEL E. OSBORN AT TORNEY June 5, 1951 s. E. OSBORN 2,555,759

PRESSING MACHINE OPERATING DEVICE Filed Dec. 28, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 W H i J 1 /30 l/ /0 r:;: 2'1 1 {I /54 i 39 29 36 I I Ii I 36 E: I27 3 34 37\ E =1 4 FIG. 2

INVENTOR. SAMUEL E. OSBORN A T TOFNE Y June 5, 1951 s. E. osBoRN 2,555,759

PRESSING MACHINE OPERATING DEVICE Filed Dec. 28, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 i I My i) E2 w I JAMUEL f. 0.55 ale/v WM m.

Patented June 5, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PRESSING MACHINE OPERATING DEVICE Samuel E. Osborn, Catonsville, Md.

Application December 28, 1945, Serial No. 637,526

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to laundry machines and more particularly to operating devices for steam pressing machines capable of pressing garments and dampening same with steam and at the same time to do effective work in creasing and flattening the clothing, in a permanent manner.

In a particular form of pressing machine used, the head and buck press the clothing, garments or fabrics between them, using valves for introducing fluid motive power into a cylinder with a piston to actuate the mechanism provided for the purpose, to bring the head down under pressure on the buck, the steam being introduced incidently by the manual operation of a valve controlling the steam line to the head. The operation of this form is dependent on the physical efforts of the user and his personal judgment. The use of the machine therefore becomes diflicult, requires continual alertness and is tiresome, all of which reduces its field of utility and increases costs in producing results from it.

The object of this invention is to provide a new and improved pressing machine that will avoid one or more of the disadvantages and limitations of the prior art.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved pressing machine that can be operated through the use of fluid motive power to give an intermittent pressing action while at the same introducing the steam desirable for dampening the material being pressed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a new and improved pressing machine that will operate effectively and expeditiously under fluid motive power, requiring but a moderate amount of manual energy on the part of the user to coin trol it.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved control unit connectable to a cloth or fabric pressing machine that will automatically control the operation of the latter so it will do its work effectively without appreciable attention.

A still further object of the herein described in-= vention is to provide a n w and improved attachment adapted to control the closing and opening of the head of a fabric pressing machine and automatically enable it to sponge the product involved. Other objects of the present invention will become evident as it is more fully detailed.

In a particular form of the invention, an ancillary mechanism is combined with a standard type of pressing machine with head and buck and comprises a cylinder having a piston therein reciprocating from one end to the other and propelled by fluid pressure from conduits controlled by hand and pedal valves, the pressure being varied by the valves to produce an intermittent reciprocating operating pressing action in the head on the buck, steam being introduced through the head to dampen and sponge the article pressed in similar intermittent manner.

For a better understanding of the invention, and other objects thereof, reference is made to the appended drawings and the following de scription, that are employed to illustrate the invention by way of example, while the scope of the invention is more particularly outlined in the claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side view of a clothes pressing machine embodying this invention,

Figure 2 is a front view of Figure l with the valves, levers and piping layed out thereon diagrammatically,

Figure 3 is a sectional view through the piston,

Figure 4 is a top plane view of Figure 5,

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along the medial axis of Figure 4,

Figure 6 is an end elevational view of Figure 4, looking in the direction of arrows ii-S ofFigure 4 with the end piece removed, and

Figure '7 Ban end elevational view of Figure 4 looking in the direction of arrows l-'l with the end piece removed, and

Figure 8 is a view partly in section looking in the direction of arrows 8-8 shown in Figure 1.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

In the structure indicated in the drawings, it represents a pressing machine of conventional form having its frame supporting a pressing lever ll fulcrumed on it by a pin 52. The lever has a pressing head it at its operating end which is counterbalanced by a counterweight it assembled at the other end. This lever is actuated. through a pin !5 fastening it to a toggle-lil e mechanism. This toggle mechanism includes an upper arm it, a lower arm ii linked together by a pin 18 which forms the toggle apex. The lower arm it is hinged on a shaft I9 mounted in the frame of the machine ii]. The projecting end 26 connected to the upper arm 56 through the pin it" has a bifurcated link 2! attached to it and adjusted by a hand wheel i ll having a screw and nut engagement (not shown) by means of which link 2! is tensioned against a spring ltd-having an abutment on arm III and the other abutment on the frame of the machine. A valve I25 and conduit furnish steam to the head I3. The lower arm H is arcuately pulled or pushed by a bar 22 and bell crank arm 24 pivoted on a pin 23 on the frame.

A link 25 operated by a lever 25 pivoted on the shaft I9 moves the bar 22 and bell crank 25 when it is given an up and-down travel. The portion of the lever 26 extending out beyond the front of the machine In is arranged to connect with a link 2] attached to the piston rod I2? of piston 28 in a cylinder 29.

The cylinder is pivotly held to the frame of the machine I by a bracket 35. The conduits necessary to supply the cylinder and other parts of the motive fluid system will be referred to in a later portion of the specification. A low pressure pedal valve SI and a high pressure pedal valve 32 and a manual locking valve 33 and cam operated valve I34 are coupled to this system. The valves 3|, and 32, are installed adjacent or on the machine It in a location where they can be readily operated by the feet of the operator. The valve 33 is placed on the pressing lever II near the head I3 so the operator can reach over'easily to operate it when handling the work to be ironed or pressed. The hand valve 33 applies high pressure and tightly applies the head against the buck and holds this position through cooperation of valve I34 until released by pedal 32.

A source of air pressure 34 is used to supply the operative fluid motive power at about 80 pound pressure, which is reduced through a reducing valve 35 to about 35 pounds pressure for the parts utilizing the lower pressure. The conduits 35 carry the high pressure and those marked 31 the lower pressure. All the parts notof the original machine are assembled together as a unit for ease of placement on the'machine I0. An equalizing bar 38 is so connected with the pedal valves 3| and 32 that the use of the high pressure valve 32 will also cause the low pressure valve 3i to operate synchronously therewith, but not viceversa. The construction of the cylinder 29 is in dicated in Figure 3. A perforated exhaust manifold I50 with holes I52 allows the exhaust from valves M and 32 to escape to the atmosphere when the piston is moving upwardly and downwardly and the valve pedals are released. The high pressure air is conducted to the valve I3 into inlet III! (or if more convenient into I55) and presses against the ball cneck I55 on its seat, if the plunger I63 is in the position shown in Figure 5, and is stopped. When the plunger I53 is operated by the cam bar I38 through the mechanism 25, and pulled down, it moves the cam I38 and the plunger I53 follows by opening the valve I3 3. This opening action raises the ball check I55 off its seat and allows the air pressure to reach the outlet I52 and proceed to the valve 33. The valve 33 has a conventional structure adapted to permit the air under pressure to pass through the inlet conductor and out of the outlet conductor.

The construction of the cylinder member involves the cylinder 29 with the piston 23 reciprocating therein. Its hollow connecting rod IZ'I passes through a stufling box in the end of the cylinder and attaches to the lever 26 to operate it on its pivoting shaft I9. An inlet orifice -3 is provided at the top' of the cylinder for high and low pressure air, while another inlet II is used for high pressure only. When the low pressure is on through the inlet 43 it forces the piston down towards the bottom of the cylinder but not to the limit of its travel because of the resistance provided to prevent it. Later when the high pressure is introduced through the same inlet 53 and the low pressure is cut off, the high pressure air exerts sufficient pressure to make the piston complete its stroke. The high pressure also tends to escape through the top piston ring and exhaust through the passage 42 in the piston rod. This exhausting action is permitted by providing a hole MI in the middle of the piston and connecting with the passage 42. If high pressure is introduced through the inlet II the piston is returned to its upper position. This action of the piston controls the flow of pressure air so that it incidentally raises the head I3 through the intermediate mechanism as explained further. A

check valve 44 is used in the conduits to obstruct, low pressure air from by passing into the high pressure system.

The lever is provided with a rotatable pin I3; for operating a cam I as the lever 25 moves up and down. The cam I33 contacts a roller unit I39 for opening and closing the valve I34. Valve I35 is restored to its original position when not actuated by cam I39 by means of a spring I59. The valves 3!, 32, 33 and I34 are of the same general internal construction shown in Figures 4 and 5 and comprise a center body unit I5I] having a longitudinal hole I5I therethrough; and an inlet I52 ,at right angles to said longitudinal hole although these valves are actuated by elements other than cams as explained further. grooved push bar I53 is slidably operated in said hole when contacted by balls I54 and I55, which contact seats I55 and I5'I respectively. At the rear end a cap I58 is fixed to the body and holds a spring I59 to tension the ball I55. The cap has inlets I60 and IEI. At the other end of the body is positioned a fork I62, for supporting the pedals or roller unit I39. A pin I63 is positioned adjacent the fork to move the balls I54 and I55 back and forth through contacting the grooved push bar I53 to open and close the valve. Thefork has an exhaust port IG I. The fork has a vertically positioned slot I55, and the cap has horizontally positioned slots I55 and I5! to allow for the escape of air around the said balls I54 and I55 when they are moved out of their seats I55 and I5! respectively.

Operation The operation of the unit is as follows, the machine is assumed to be open with a garment on its buck I35 ready to operate. The user presses the low pressure pedal valve 3 I. This at first introduces low pressure air into the conduits 3? through valve 3| to push down on the piston and link 2? and move the lever 25 down on its shaft I9. This causes a push on the arm 22 to move the arms Il and I6 over towards the back of the machine and lower the head I3 with just sufficient force to outbalance the counterweight I I and rest the head on the garment. The user then opens the locking valve 33 and through cooperation of valve I34 places air pressure of higher value into the cylinder 29 and forces its piston 28 down further by reason of the greater pressure, which actuates the pressing mechanism over more and pushes on the bar 22 sufiiciently to make the toggle straighter on the pin I8 and lock same in place, with the head pressure increased by the higher air pressure forcing itself down more strenuously on the garment as shown in Figure 1. At the same time the steam is introduced into the head in a conventional way and tries to escape through the perforations therein through to the garment to dampen same. The steam valve is opened by the manual movement by the user.

The structure of the cylinder 29 and piston 28 will make this action clear. The piston is doubled ringed with a middle escape orifice 49 leading into a passage 42 which passes through the connecting rod to the open air. The purpose of the orifice 48 and passage 42 are to provide an escape for any high pressure air that may pass the rings and attempt to enter the low pressure side of the cylinder. The high pressure pedal 32 is used for two purposes, first; to apply high pressure air to the bottom of the cylinder to unlock the toggle mechanism after it has been set by hand valve 33 the upper cylinder being vented by releasing and venting valve 3|. And, secondly; to assist in producing the intermittent motion to the head I3. This intermittent motion is caused in the following manner. valve 3I is closed and kept closed through the operation. This applies low pressure air to the head of the piston forcing it and the lever 26 and cam downwardly. When the cam I38 contacts the roller 539 it opens the valve I34 and allows high pressure air to pass to valve 32. The valve 32 is then opened by its foot pedal and passes the high pressure air into the cylinder to contact the bottom of the piston forcing it and the head I3 upwardly. As the piston is raised it compresses the low pressure air in the top of the cylinder (which cannot escape because the foot pedal 3| is depressed). The low pressure air is retained to a predetermined extent at the top of the cylinder 29, even though the valve I34 has been opened, due to the fact that the blocking valve 33 has not been manually opened. At a predetermined point the valve I34 is closed by the partial opening of the press, cutting off the high pressure air to valve 32 and venting line 4| through valve 32. The low pressure air then forces the piston and cam downwardly and opens the valve I34 and again sending high pressure air to valve 32 and bottom of the piston and starting the cycle over again. This produces the reciprocating motion to the head known as sponging or the removal of shine from clothing.

While but one general form of the invention is shown in the drawings and described in the specifications, it is not desired to limit this application for patent to this particular form, as it is appreciated that other forms of construction could be made that would use the same principles and come within the scope of the appended claims.

The

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In combination with a pressing machine of the class described having a frame, a power cylinder mounted on said frame, a piston therein, a control mechanism for controlling the flow of pressure fluid to said cylinder comprising fluid conduits for conveying high and low pressure fluid to said cylinder, a cam bar actuated by said piston, a valve controlling some of said fluid conduits operated by said bar so as to control the high pressure fluid, a manually operated valve mounted on said machine within access of a user thereof, fluid conduit means between said last mentioned valve and said first mentioned valve, a reducing valve, fluid conduit means between one side of said reducing valve and said manually operated valve, fluid conduit means extending from the other side of said reducing valve to one side of said cylinder, a pedal operated valve for controlling fluid flow through said last named conduit means to initiate the closing of said machine fluid conduit means between said first mentioned valve and the opposite side of said cylinder, a second pedal operated valve in the last mentioned fluid conduit means to vary the flow of fluid from said manually operated valve in predetermined amounts, said second pedal operated valves being operable by the user to cause a vibratory action to the fluid flowing to said cylinder and to the pressing elements of the machine operated thereby.

2. A pressing machine as set forth in claim 1, said valve operated by said cam bar comprising a casing, a plurality of ball valves therein, a spacing element between said ball valves, a spring pressing against one of said ball valves and tending to set the device in inoperative position, and a plunger actuatable by said cam bar to force said ball valves in open position.

SAMUEL E. OSBORN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,682,372 Daly Aug. 28, 1928 1,887,719 Page Nov. 15, 1932 1,940,641 Davis Dec. 19, 1933 1,979,962 Davis Nov. 6, 1934 2,035,794 Davis Mar. 31, 1936 2,115,414 Davis Apr. 26, 1938 2,226,450 Strobridge Dec. 24, 1940 2,361,660 Sneddon Oct. 31, 1944 

